A breath of fresh air on the ice: Alysa Liu shapes conversations about authenticity in sports

March 30, 2026

By Isabella Bartlett
Managing Editor

When 20-year-old figure skater Alysa Liu announced her retirement at 16 after placing sixth at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China, fans thought they would never see her on the ice again. 

Liu, who grew up in the Bay Area and is now a psychology major at the University of California, Los Angeles, initially retired to experience a typical teenage life. However, after deciding she missed the sport, Liu returned to skate on her own terms, announcing her return in an Instagram post on March 1, 2024. Liu said that moving forward, she would be in charge of what she eats, performs and wears. 

“She’s a connection to the real world, and she’s like a bridge to people who don’t know much about figure skating. [She is] modernizing it rather than copying what already exists.”

A year later, on March 2, 2025, Liu won the World Figure Skating Championship, becoming a fan favorite to win gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy. 

On Feb. 19, Liu’s long program, in which she skated to Donna Summer’s “MacArthur Park,” secured her a gold medal in women’s figure skating. She is the first woman since Sarah Hughes in 2002 to earn this medal. Additionally, Liu took home a gold medal in the team event on Feb. 8.

Sophomore Alexa Longo said she had not heard of Liu before the Olympics, but became a fan because of her aesthetic, particularly her striped hair and smiley piercing.

“Her personal style makes her seem more real and unique, which helps people connect with her more easily,” Longo said.

She said she appreciates the creative liberty Liu brings to her performances.

“Her performances showcase her personality through her energy, confidence and expressive skating, which helps audiences connect with her,” Longo said.

She said that Liu’s digital footprint separates her from other athletes, as many of her Instagram posts focus on her personal life, showcasing dinners with friends and picturesque vacations.

“Liu’s online presence shows [her] being real and honest about [her life], which encourages being authentic instead of trying to appear perfect,” Longo said.

Senior Lucas Guerrero said he was drawn to Liu’s performances because they were freer and more genuine than those of other skaters.

“A lot of [figure skaters] are very by-the-book and try to get everything to be perfect the way that it traditionally is,” Guerrero said. “[Liu] thinks about it as an art form and as something that can be interpreted or conveyed differently, and that’s when it’s more beautiful and interesting to watch.”

Guerrero said Liu brings modern, relatable qualities to a traditional sport.

“You don’t have to be an athlete to appreciate sports, but with figure skating… you need to know some of what’s going on to appreciate the true scale of how hard things are,” Guerrero said. “She’s a connection to the real world, and she’s like a bridge to people who don’t know much about figure skating. [She is] modernizing it rather than copying what already exists.”

Guerrero said Liu’s authenticity could encourage more people to pursue figure skating.

“People are more likely to give it a shot if they know they can do it on their terms. It can be their art rather than trying to do it for somebody else. It relieves that pressure,” Guerrero said.

After her gold-medal-winning performance, Liu said she skates to tell a story, so there is “no way to lose.”  

Senior Joseph Brennen said he appreciates Liu’s mindset.

“Seeing her joy while skating and her love for the art, it made me view her in a different light than all the other athletes, especially when she succeeded too,” Brennen said.

He said Liu’s personal journey in competitive figure skating also drew him into her performances.

“She walked away from her sport because she felt pressured, but she came back because she really loved it, and I feel like I’ve been through stuff like that too,” Brennen said.

History teacher and longtime Olympic fan Mr. Spence said he remembers Liu’s emergence as an international figure skater when she was 13.

“She was the one American who could land a triple axel, and she had immense pressure on her because of that,” Spence said. “She was seen as the great American hope of winning a gold [Olympic] medal.”

Spence said that, unlike Liu, many Olympic athletes compete solely to win.

“That’s what drives them, and that’s how they define success…. [Liu’s] view is rare in that regard, and while she’s making [creative freedom] a possibility for more athletes, the majority of athletes are going to drive for those medals,” Spence said.

He said even though Liu’s mindset might not alter elite figure skating, it may influence the general public.

“To see someone do something and enjoy it, and enjoy the process of doing it, is a great lesson for Americans, and something that Americans can cheer for and get behind,” said Spence.